Creating a solution > Setting options for fields > Defining automatic data entry
 
Defining automatic data entry
To save time and ensure accuracy, you can set FileMaker Pro to automatically enter data in text, number, date, time, and container fields. For example, FileMaker Pro can enter the current user's name into a field.
To set options for automatic data entry:
1. With the database open, choose File menu > Manage > Database.
2. In the Manage Database dialog box, click the Fields tab.
3. If your database contains more than one table, select the appropriate table from the Table list.
4. Select a text, number, date, time, or container field from the list of existing fields, or define a new one.
5. Click Options (or double-click the field name).
6. In the Options for Field dialog box, click the Auto-Enter tab, then select options for the field.
 
To
Do this
Enter the record creation date or time
Select Creation, then choose Date or Time from the list.
Enter the record creation date and time (timestamp)
Select Creation, then choose Timestamp from the list.
Enter the name of the person who creates the record
Select Creation, then choose Name from the list.
Enter the account name that creates the record
Select Creation, then choose Account Name from the list.
Enter the record modification date or time
Select Modification, then choose Date or Time from the list.
Enter the record modification date and time (timestamp)
Select Modification, then choose Timestamp from the list.
Enter the name of the person who modifies the record
Select Modification, then choose Name from the list.
Enter the account name that modifies the record
Select Modification, then choose Account Name from the list.
Assign a serialized number to the field in each record
Select Serial number, then:
•For Generate, choose On creation to generate serial numbers when records are created.
•For Generate, choose On commit to generate serial numbers when records are committed.
For next value, type a starting value (like 100), then type the increment in increment by.
Enter the value from the same field of the last active record
Select Value from last visited record. This option refers to the last record in which you performed some activity, such as clicking in a field.
Note  This value will be from the last record accessed in the table in which this option has been set.
Enter data that you specify
Select Data, then type up to 255 characters.
Enter the result of a calculation
Select Calculated value (or click Specify), then enter a calculation.
See Defining calculation fields for information about the dialog box.
Select Do not replace existing value for field (if any) to prevent overwriting data already present.
Enter a value that's copied from a field in a related record
Select Looked-up value (or click Specify), then define the lookup. See About lookups.
Prohibit a user from modifying a value that you have defined to be auto-entered
Select Prohibit modification of value.
Turn off automatic data entry
Clear all selected checkboxes.
7. Click OK to close the Options for Field dialog box, or click another tab to set additional field options.
Notes
•You can also define value lists to save time and ensure accuracy during data entry.
•Alternatively, you can specify the auto-complete option for text fields to help ensure accuracy for data entry. See Setting up a field to auto-complete during data entry.
•If Creation Name or Modification Name is selected, FileMaker Pro enters the user name shown in the General tab of the Preferences dialog box.
•If you select Calculated value, you can edit the field value in Browse mode (if Prohibit modification of value isn't selected). The value is calculated when you create a record, or when one of the referenced fields changes and the destination field is empty. (However, if you select Do not evaluate if all referenced fields are empty in the Specify Calculation dialog box, the value isn't calculated when you create a record and all fields referenced by the calculation are empty. Instead, the value is calculated when one of the referenced fields contains a value.)
•Auto-enter calculations can be self-referencing.
•To make an auto-enter calculation self-modifying, leave the Do not replace existing value for field (if any) option deselected.
•To auto-enter a calculated value that’s automatically updated and can’t be changed by entering data in the field, define a calculation field.
Related topics 
Working with formulas and functions
About choosing a field type
Inserting the current date or other variables into a field
Defining value lists
Entering preset data from a value list
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